Animal trap



July 4, 1933.

J. n. ZAHN ET AL ANIMAL TRAP Filed April 16, 1931 ATTORN EY Patented July 4, 1933 TATE PATE T FE'1Q JOSEPH D. ZAEIM AND JOHN U. LESEN, OF LETI'IZ, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS T0 ANI1VIAL TRAP COMIPANY OF AMERICA, OF LITITZ, PEN-NSYLVANIA, A CORPOBATION OF PENNSYLVANIA ANIMAL TRAP Applioation fi1ed April 16,

This invention relates to Wl1ai; a.re commonly known as pivoted or hinged jaw traps 101 catching animals.

The obj ect 01 the invention is to provicle in an ani1nal trap of the aforesaid type an improvecl construction ancl arrangement of detent which in aclclition t0 exerting a positive restmining action 011 tl1e jaws when the israp is sei; Will when the trap is sprung cooperate with the jaws t0 insure its rapid ejection from i;l1e patl1 of the latter.

In orcler that ehe invention may be clearly unclerstoocl reference Will n0w be macle o the accompanying clravving in which a 0011- structional form is illustrated by way of example anal in Whichz Figure 1 is a. side elevation showing the trap sprung,

Fig. 2 is a plan showing the trap set, and

Fig. 3 is an encl eleva.tion viewecl from the left of Fig. 1.

In the particular form illustratecl the trap comprises abase 1 with upturnecl perforate lugs 2 und 3 at opposite encls thereof ancl a raisecl part 4 intermecliate its encls. Pivotecl in the lugs 2 ancl 8 are aws 5 ancl at 0110 encl of the i-rap is a spring 6 with perforate ends 7 and 8 both 01 which fit loosely over the lug 2 Whil0 the end 8 is aclaptecl 130 cooperate Wifli inclined surfaces 9 011 the exterior of the jaws 5.

Pivoted 011 the upturnecl lug 3 by means of an eye 16 is a sheet meual cletent 10 of clishecl formation having 02m1 surfaces 11 adaptecl to 000perate with ehe inne; faces 01 the jaws 5 ancl pivoted in the raisecl art 4 is a latcl1 12 carrying a bait pan 13 anrl proviclecl with a n0tch 14 adaptecl t0 receive che end 15 0f the cletent 10. It shoulcl be particularly notecl that Ehe lug 3 is curvecl outwarclly away from the aws 5 t0 bring "alle pivotal axis 0f the cletent 10 external t0 tl1e pivot of the juxtaposed encls 0f the jaws ancl filmt he eye 16 is so formecl thaa when the cletent 10 is in the sei position illusfimtecl by Figure 2 it lies below the level of i;he bocly portion 0f the cletent, thus throwing its pivotal axis still further away from ehe point 0f pivotation 0f tl1e jznvs. Tl1is, together with tl10 peculiar rofile o1 ehe cle- 1931. Serial N0. 530,480.

tent aml its clisheal formation, resulcs in a perfect sliding action between tl1e detent ancl the jaws which absolutely prevents weclging 0f the former when the latter are sprung.

T0 sei; the trap tl1e spring 6 is compressecl ancl the jaws 5 pivotecl clownwardly Whereupon die cletent 10 can be swung into the position illustratecl by Fig. 2 0f the clrawing with its encl 15 in engagement with the notch 1 1 in tl1e latch 12.

The firap is, 01 course, sprung in the usual manner by clepression of the bait pan 13, When tl1e spring 6 efifeccs a rapid closure of the jaws 5. During the initial closing movement 01 the jaws 5 the inner faces thereof cooperae W113l1 the cam surfaces 11 0n the cletent 10 ancl efiiect the rapid ejection 0f the latter from the path of the jaws 5. Owing t0 the clishecl formation of the detent 10 0nly the mm surfaces 11 contact witl1 the jaws.

1Ve claim:

1. An animal trap comprising a base 1110mber, upturned perforate lugs a1; opposite encls thereof, one of which is bent outwardly, ja.ws pivoted in said upturned lugs, a spring 130 close saicl aws, a latch 2LI1C1 a solicl cum shapecl cletent 01: dished formation so engage said latch ancl t0 cooperate with saicl jaws and having thereon a downwarclly curled eye which is received in an opening in said outwardly bent lug 130 pivotally connect saicl cletent t0 saicl lug.

2. An animal trap comprising a base membar, upturned perforate lugs a1; opposite ends 1 thereof, 0ne 0f which is bent outwardly, ja.ws pivo-tecl in saicl upturned lugs, a spring 130 close said jaws, a la.tch and a solicl cam shapecl cletent 01 clishecl formation co an gage said latch and to cooperate Wih said jaws ancl having thereon a clownwarclly curled eye Whi0h is receivecl in an opening in saicl outwarclly bent lug 130 pivotally 0011- nect said cletent t0 said lug said eye lying wholly below the level of the body portion 0f the cletent When the detent is in engagement with saicl latch.

8. An animal trap comprising a base member, upturnecl perfomte lugs at opposite the pivot of the juxtaposed ends of the jaws to said lug, said eye lying wholly below the leve1 of the body portion of the detent when the detent is in engagement with said latch.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

JOSEPH D. ZAHM. JOHN U. LEHN. 

